The competition, which was established in 2007 by CBRE, the world’s largest property advisor, is open to photographers worldwide and last year attracted over 8,000 entries from 115 countries.

The competition’s popular theme 'Cities at Work' is designed to challenge amateur and professional photographers alike to capture what they consider to be the essence of urban life at any time of day, be it poignant, inspiring, quirky or amusing.

The overall global winner of the 2013 competition will be able to choose a luxury photo safari from a range of exotic locations sponsored by CBRE!

Prizes will also be awarded to two runners-up and for the 24 standout images representing each hour of the day.

"Each year the competition is fiercely contested, and the number and range of images we receive is staggering. Past winners have captured wonderfully the individual characters of cities around the world, and I would encourage anyone, whether a professional photographer or an amateur enthusiast with a passion for photography to enter. Last year entries hailed from as far afield as Bangladesh, Korea, South Africa and Brazil and over the life of the competition, winning the title has provided many photographers with a global platform to showcase their work."